The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs by William Morris
page 57 of 442 (12%)
page 57 of 442 (12%)
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Then Sigmund heard the sword-point smite on the stone wall's side, And slowly mid the darkness therethrough he heard it gride As against it bore Sinfiotli: but he cried out at the last: "It biteth, O my fosterer! It cleaves the earth-bone fast! Now learn we the craft of the masons that another day may come When we build a house for King Siggeir, a strait unlovely home." Then in the grave-mound's darkness did Sigmund the king upstand; And unto that saw of battle he set his naked hand; And hard the gift of Odin home to their breasts they drew; Sawed Sigmund, sawed Sinfiotli, till the stone was cleft atwo, And they met and kissed together: then they hewed and heaved full hard Till lo, through the bursten rafters the winter heavens bestarred! And they leap out merry-hearted; nor is there need to say A many words between them of whither was the way. For they took the night-watch sleeping, and slew them one and all And then on the winter fagots they made them haste to fall, They pile the oak-trees cloven, and when the oak-beams fail They bear the ash and the rowan, and build a mighty bale About the dwelling of Siggeir, and lay the torch therein. Then they drew their swords and watched it till the flames began to win Hard on to the mid-hall's rafters, and those feasters of the folk, As the fire-flakes fell among them, to their last of days awoke. By the gable-door stood Sigmund, and fierce Sinfiotli stood Red-lit by the door of the women in the lane of blazing wood: To death each doorway opened, and death was in the hall. Then amid the gathered Goth-folk 'gan Siggeir the king to call: |
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